LAS CRUCES — One of the most hard-fought, highest-spending contests in Doña Ana County remained too close to call at press time.

In the race to become the county's next top prosecutor, challenger Mark D'Antonio maintained an edge over incumbent District Attorney Amy Orlando. After voting center ballots, absentee and early voting ballots were counted, D'Antonio held around 52 percent of the votes, or around 3,800 more than his opponent.

D'Antonio is a former federal prosecutor who worked out of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Cruces and a former FBI agent.

Around 10 p.m. Tuesday, D'Antonio said the narrow margin was a sign both he and Orlando carried out effective campaigning.

"I'm very optimistic about the results," said D'Antonio, who watched election results roll in with other Democrats at the Ramada Palms hotel.

Meanwhile, Orlando trailed slightly. She was one of four Doña Ana County Republican officials appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez whose seats were in jeopardy Tuesday night. Orlando served under Martinez when Martinez was Doña Ana County's district attorney. She was a prosecutor for 17 years before filling the vacancy left when Martinez was elected governor.

A member of Orlando's campaign, Carlos Franco, said she was reluctant to comment, without more-complete results being reported.

Still, Franco said, "we want to express our complete gratitude, not only for the Republican voters, but the Democratic voters, that came out.

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The narrow margin existed after early votes and a portion of election-day votes had been tallied. Absentee and provisional ballots weren't factored in.

South Doña Ana County returns were among those remaining to be counted late in the evening. D'Antonio said he's hopeful about the prospects in those areas.

"I campaigned extensively outside of Las Cruces," he said.

Both candidates spent tens of thousands of dollars in the weeks leading up to the election, including on full-page newspaper advertisements.

Their campaigns turned scrappy, with both candidates raising allegations against the other.

Orlando's office secured some high-profile courtroom victories, including two murder convictions the week before the election. Also, she was instrumental in prosecuting a massive public corruption scandal in Sunland Park.

The district attorney's seat is a four-year term.

Diana Alba Soular can be reached at (575) 541-5443; follow her on Twitter @AlbaSoular